St. John's Wort is an herb of the genus and species Hypericum perforatum and is also known as goat weed or klamath weed. It is widely used in Germany and other European countries as a depression remedy, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Many Americans also take it for this purpose as it is readily available over the counter in the United States. It can have negative effects even though it is a natural substance. The risks must be weighed against the potential benefits when deciding whether to take it.
Interactions
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) warns that St. John's Wort can interact with certain medications, causing potentially dangerous effects. This includes commonly prescribed drugs like antidepressants, birth control pills and anticoagulants. It may also cause problems in transplant patients who take Cyclosporine, HIV patients who take Indinavir or similar medications and cancer sufferers who are being treated with Irinotecan and certain other drugs.
NIH states that St. John's Wort can slow or speed up the breakdown of these drugs or affect the way the body processes them which can impact their effectiveness. It can decrease certain side effects of antidepressants, including confusion, anxiety, nausea and headache.
Side Effects
St. John's Wort can cause side effects even though it is an herbal compound. The most common side effect is sensitivity to the sun, according to NIH. Other frequently reported effects include headache, fatigue, stomach and digestion problems and sexual difficulties.
Iron Absorption
A study review in Psychosomatics, a publication of the The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine, warns that St. John's Wort contains tannins which may interfere with iron absorption. It could potentially cause problems for people with iron deficiencies.
Ineffectiveness
Some studies show that St. John's Wort may be helpful for treating depression, but NIH warns this has not been proven conclusively. For example, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reviewed German studies that showed St. John's Wort extract worked better than placebo, but there were some flaws in the research design. The herb's potential ineffectiveness may be a problem for patients who opt for the herb rather than traditional depression treatments. Delaying treatment with proven methods like counseling and antidepressants can cause a person to suffer needlessly from depression symptoms, and the condition may worsen over time. This can make it more difficult to treat when the person finally decides to seek medical care.
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